Veteran artist offers amateurs chance to shine

It's not every day that Yu Jinhao, a 43-year-old corporate leader who lives and works in Tianjin, finds himself standing in front of a crowd of strangers, crouching low, arms dangling by his side, and hopping across a stage while scratching his head and emitting monkey grunts.

Before the laughter subsides, he has transitioned again, this time into a crocodile lying flat on the ground and snapping imaginary jaws with exaggerated ferocity. His voice deepens as he growls, sending a ripple of surprise through the audience.

Finally, he curls up and wiggles like an earthworm, his body undulating awkwardly.

He straightens up, his face flushed, smooths out the crumples in his pants, and says with a shy grin: "I released my inner animals and now it is your turn."

Yu was taking part in the first class of a theater training program created by singer-songwriter Xiao Ke. The program is free, and open to amateurs under the age of 45.